Tobin J Fisher

US Patent:

8062797, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

May 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/124401

Inventors:

Tobin J. Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Thomas C. Covington - San Francisco CA, US
Jonathan L. Glassman - Indianapolis IN, US
Jesse M. Thomas - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel Braithwaite - Rowland Heights CA, US

Assignee:

Ardica Technologies, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H01M 8/04
A41D 1/04

US Classification:

429400, 429492, 429507, 429513, 429468, 2102, 2905, 219211

Abstract:

An article of clothing with an on-demand power supply for electrical devices is provided. The power supply includes stiff planar fuel cell devices that are distributed in a plane. The number of fuel cells is dependent on the power requirements for the electrical devices. The planar stiff fuel cells are flexibly interconnected in the plane by a flexible interconnection, which allows the fuel cells to move with respect to each other out of the plane. This further allows the power supply to be nicely integrated in an article of clothing and minimizes negative impact to a body region or to the article of clothing. The electrical and fuel connections between the fuel cells are integrated with the flexible interconnection. To further integrate and increase ease of operation a control system is included to control the on-demand power supply or control power levels for the electrical device.

US Patent:

8100697, Jan 24, 2012

Filed:

Mar 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/401942

Inventors:

Robert Budryk - Tewksbury MA, US
Tobin J. Fisher - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

ZipBoard, Inc. - Tewksbury MA

International Classification:

B43L 1/00

US Classification:

434412, 434415, 434416, 434423, 434426, 434430

Abstract:

A portable, retractable writing surface device provides a writing surface that may be extended from a housing and held sufficiently flat by the device to facilitate marking on the writing surface with a writing implement, such as a dry-erase marker, chalk, grease crayon, pencil, pen, permanent marker or the like. The device maintains sufficient rigidity in the extended writing surface, such that the device may be used without an additional support surface, such as a clip board or table. The writing surface may be retracted back into the housing to protect the writing surface and to reduce the size of the device for storage or transport, such as within a pocket or briefcase. Retracting the writing surface may include rolling the writing surface onto a spool, accordion folding the writing surface or otherwise reconfiguring the writing surface to make it fit into a compact space (collectively referred to herein as “compressing” the writing surface). One or more resilient members may be used to make the extended writing surface flat when the writing surface is extended from the housing. The writing surface may include a flexible computer display screen.

US Patent:

8100993, Jan 24, 2012

Filed:

Jul 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/501675

Inventors:

Tobin Joseph Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Jesse Thomas - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Ardica Technologies, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B01J 7/00
H01M 8/06
C01B 3/36
C01B 6/24
C01B 3/02

US Classification:

48 61, 48197 R, 423644, 4236481

Abstract:

A hydrogen gas generator generates hydrogen gas by mixing two reactants. The generator has a reaction chamber for receiving a solid reactant. The chamber has a reaction product separator impermeable to the solid reactant and a biasing means for biasing reactant products against the separator. The generator also has a liquid reactant dispenser for storing a liquid reactant and is fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, such that dispensed liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a waste product that are substantially permeable through the separator. The generator also has a product collector coupled to the reaction chamber for collecting hydrogen gas and waste product that have passed through the separator.

US Patent:

8187758, May 29, 2012

Filed:

Aug 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/203001

Inventors:

Tobin Joseph Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Jonathan Louis Glassman - Indianapolis IN, US

Assignee:

Ardica Technologies Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H01M 8/06
F04B 7/00

US Classification:

429421, 429416, 429515, 429512, 417510

Abstract:

A fluid pump and connector assembly is particularly suited for use in connecting a fuel cartridge to a fuel cell system. The assembly has a first sub-assembly comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flexible diaphragm in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, and a first connector. The assembly also has a second sub-assembly comprising a second connector adapted to connect to the first connector, an actuator and a reciprocating member coupled to the actuator and contacting the diaphragm when the first and second sub-assemblies are connected, wherein a reciprocating motion of the actuator and member causes the diaphragm to reciprocate and pump fluid from the inlet to the outlet without exposing the fluid to the second sub-assembly.

US Patent:

8192890, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Jan 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/322352

Inventors:

Tobin J. Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Tibor Fabian - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Ardica Technologies, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H01M 8/24

US Classification:

429471, 429 9, 429434, 429439, 429467, 429469, 429470, 429508, 429511

Abstract:

A fuel cell air exchanger is provided. The fuel cell air exchanger includes a platform having at least one throughput opening and at least one holding post, where the holding post fixedly holds a fuel cell offset from the platform and proximal to the opening, where the opening can have many shapes. The fuel cell air exchanger provides an unimpeded air exchange through the openings to the fuel cell and can be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The fuel cell air exchanger can hold an array of fuel cells and fuel cell electronics. A chimney feature provides enhanced airflow when the air exchanger is disposed in a vertical position.

US Patent:

20050256555, Nov 17, 2005

Filed:

May 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/123838

Inventors:

Tobin Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Thomas Covington - San Francisco CA, US
Jonathan Glassman - Indianapolis IN, US
Jesse Thomas - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel Braithwaite - Rowland Heights CA, US

International Classification:

A61F007/00
A61F007/12

US Classification:

607096000, 607108000

Abstract:

Electrochemical devices are utilized as an on-demand personal temperature control system, as well as an on-demand power supply for electrical devices. The electrochemical devices are planar stiff fuel cells flexibly interconnected in a plane by a flexible interconnecting means. This allows the fuel cells to move with respect to each other out of the plane. This further allows it to be nicely integrated in an article of clothing, to minimize negative impact to a body region or to the article of clothing, and to maximize the heat conduction area to a body region. To further integrate and increase ease of operation a control system and sensors could be included to control: (i) on-demand power and/or heat supply, (ii) temperature levels, and/or (iii) power levels for the electrical device(s).

US Patent:

20070036711, Feb 15, 2007

Filed:

Aug 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/202598

Inventors:

Tobin Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Jesse Thomas - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Ardica Technologies Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

C01B 3/02
B01J 8/08

US Classification:

423648100, 422232000

Abstract:

A hydrogen gas generator generates hydrogen gas by mixing two reactants. The generator has a reaction chamber for receiving a solid reactant. The chamber has a reaction product separator impermeable to the solid reactant and a biasing means for biasing reactant products against the separator. The generator also has a liquid reactant dispenser for storing a liquid reactant and is fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, such that dispensed liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a waste product that are substantially permeable through the separator. The generator also has a product collector coupled to the reaction chamber for collecting hydrogen gas and waste product that have passed through the separator.

US Patent:

20090269634, Oct 29, 2009

Filed:

Jan 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/322337

Inventors:

Tibor Fabian - Mountain View CA, US
Tobin J. Fisher - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel Braithwaite - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

H01M 8/04
H01M 2/02

US Classification:

429 23, 429 34, 429 22, 429 24

Abstract:

A fuel cell gas purge system is provided that includes at least one fuel cell, such as a fuel cell stack or a fuel cell array, a fuel supply, and an adjustable fuel cell current load. The system further includes at least one passive purge valve disposed to purge accumulated non-fuel matter in the fuel cell, and operates according to a pressure differential across the valve. The valve can be a passive bi-directional valve, such as a dome valve, or a passive unidirectional valve. Further included is a purge management module that has a purge request module to determine when to increase the pressure of the hydrogen fuel to initiate the purge, and a purge complete module to determine when to adjust the pressure of the hydrogen fuel to complete the purge. The non-fuel matter can include non-fuel gases or condensed water.